Daily Readings - Sat Dec 02 2017

First Reading - Daniel 7.15-27

¹⁵I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.¹⁶I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.¹⁷These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.¹⁸But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.¹⁹Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;²⁰And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.²¹I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;²²Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.²³Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.²⁴And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.²⁵And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.²⁶But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.²⁷And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Gospel - Luke 21.34-36

Luke

Chapter 21

³⁴And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.³⁵For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.³⁶Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Daniel, we encounter a vision of four great beasts, symbolizing four kingdoms that will rise and fall. Despite the terror and chaos these kingdoms bring, Daniel is assured that the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom, and it will last forever. This vision reminds us that earthly powers, no matter how formidable, are transient, while God’s reign is eternal. The fourth beast, with its ten horns and its blasphemous arrogance, represents the ultimate earthly power that persecutes the holy ones. Yet, even this will come to an end, and the kingdom will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus’ warning to his disciples about the dangers of being weighed down by the cares and pleasures of this life. He urges them to be vigilant and prayerful so that they may stand before the Son of Man when he comes. This passage serves as a reminder that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus’ words are a call to live with our hearts fixed on heaven, avoiding the distractions and temptations that can lead us away from God. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on trust in God’s providence and the importance of spiritual vigilance. Daniel’s vision assures us that even in the face of great trials and persecutions, God’s plan will prevail, and his people will inherit the kingdom. Luke’s Gospel, on the other hand, challenges us to live in a way that reflects this hope, remaining alert and prayerful as we await the Lord’s return. Together, they remind us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and we must not allow the fleeting attractions of this world to distract us from our ultimate goal. Let us, therefore, trust in God’s promise, stay vigilant in our faith, and live in a way that reflects our hope in the eternal kingdom.